Date: Save The Date: November 15, 2026. Foster City Library. 2 – 5. Registration details to come!
Are you Taiwanese American, or Chinese American, and ever wondered where your family came from – and how to find out? Are you one of the 15,000 who attended Taiwan’s Love Boat Program between 1967 and 2013, and wondered the same?
This special genealogy seminar will show you how resources in the United States, Taiwan, and China can help uncover your family history. Through records, databases, archives, and real-life case studies, you’ll learn how to trace your ancestral village, plan a visit to your family’s homeland, and preserve your family history for future generations.
Whether your family has been in Taiwan for many generations, or they came to Taiwan from China —including those from the 1949 Civil War-—this seminar is for you.
Ron Chan is a passionate storyteller, educator, and nationally recognized leader in Chinese American genealogy. As Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG), Ron inspires people to discover their family roots, preserve their heritage, and ensure the stories of those who came before them are never lost. A seasoned lecturer and published genealogy author, he brings genealogy, history, technology, and storytelling together to make family history engaging and accessible. Ron is also co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, preserving the stories of Chinese American veterans. In 2026, Ron received the prestigious National Genealogical Society Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award.
This paper discusses how to research and request copies of A-Files for Chinese who immigrated to the United States beginning in 1944. Some individuals with one hundred birth years entered prior to 1944 during the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943) and were subjected to federal proceedings 30 years after arrival.
If You Wish To Research, Find or Visit Your Warbride Village, the following offers (paid) services to help you.
Henry Tom – See information on his next Chinese Genealogy Workshop and China Tour
Friends of Roots – Offers you the opportunity to discover the roots that link you to the past and place you in the present … to journey back to ancestral beginnings, to explore the land and lives of those who shaped your heritage, and to relate your family’s history to the totality of the Chinese American experience.
My China Roots – Nothing compares to a trip to your ancestral home. We help coordinate with your China relatives, design itineraries, and provide experienced multilingual guides to bridge any cultural or linguistic gaps.
Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, Friday, July 10, 2026, 1PM – 3PM
Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA, Sunday, July 12, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
Morgan Hill Library, 660 W Main Ave, Morgan Hill, CA, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 4PM – 6PM
Cupertino Library, 10800 Torre Ave, Cupertino, CA, Saturday, July 23, 2026, 1AM – 3PM NOTE …RESCHEDULED FROM 7/18
Milpitas Library, 160 North Main Street, Milpitas, CA, Saturday, July 25, 2026, 1 – 3PM
Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth Street, Gilroy, CA, Monday, July 27, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA. Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
What you will learn
• Access military records from major archives and databases
• Interpret DD-214s, draft cards, and service records
• Use census and muster rolls to trace service
• Create storytelling from veteran oral histories and personal accounts
* Create and share a meaningful memorial page
Session Abstract:
Unlock Your Ancestors’ Military Records: Critical documents, resources, and techniques to create military service stories. Discover the hidden stories of veterans in your family. This seminar shows how U.S. military records can enrich genealogy research by revealing an ancestor’s life, service, and character. Learn step-by-step methods to access records from the National Archives, FamilySearch, fold3, and online resources. Explore how to interpret DD-214 forms, locate draft registrations, use census and muster records to trace service and deployments. Hear veteran oral histories that bring records to life with personal context. Participants will learn to create a lasting story and memorial page honoring service.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron Chan is a passionate storyteller, educator, and recognized leader in Chinese American genealogy. As Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG), Ron inspires people to discover their family roots, preserve their heritage, and ensure the stories of those who came before them are never lost. A seasoned lecturer and published genealogy author, he brings genealogy, history, technology, and storytelling together to make family history engaging and accessible. Ron is also co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, preserving the stories of Chinese American veterans. In 2026, Ron received the prestigious National Genealogical Society Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award.
Patron Feedback
“Lots of great info. I have a World War II Navy Seabee Dad and want to honor his service legacy. Thank you!!!”
“Superb organization, lots of information and resources, very touching stories!”
“I came in knowing some, I left knowing a lot more. Presented in an easily digestible matter.”
” I enjoyed all of it. Useful and entertaining!!
“This is a very thorough and interesting presentation. I have not used Fold3 or Cindi’s List as research resources. Most of my research has been done from my parents military records, but there is more I would like to learn.”
“Many new avenues to explore to find your ancestors and to write a family history.”
“I learned a lot! Very impressive.”
“Enjoyed the live case study videos to show what can be done for family stories. Nice to tell life stories of vets using multimedia.”
“Your work is engaging because it includes historical information into an experience for me. I can feel the emotions of the characters. Well organized, it has a good flow to it.”
“Very detailed account of resources available for veteran records.”
“I like how personalized the presentation is.”
“Very comprehensive view of resources available to research and document military service of a family member or friend. Good information.”
“Good presentation of useful and helpful information that jumpstart research on military history.”
“Ron showed a lot of good resources to use as well as showing examples of software and websites to go for information to gather records of the service member.’
“Really good content. Great military research story creation examples.”
The Genealogy and Family History Symposium 2026 is a two-day conference presented by the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and the California Genealogical Society (CGS), featuring speakers from SFPL, CGS, SFgenealogy, the Oakland FamilySearch Center and others covering a diverse range of topics. Learn about physical and electronic resources available at the library that can aid your research, as well as how to search for specific ancestors like African American, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino American, Russian American and more. The symposium takes place in the lower level of the Main Library with presentations in the Koret Auditorium and Latino/Hispanic Room B, discussion groups in Latino/Hispanic Room A and organizations tabling in the Koret Lobby.
Sun, August 16th, 11AM Most histories focus only on the arrival of immigrants in the West. But the Chinese diaspora was a continuous circle of cultural exchange. Our ancestors deeply influenced the communities they adopted, while simultaneously transforming their ancestral homelands in Southern China.Join CHSA for a profound exploration with Dr. Selia Tan, world renowned expert on overseas Chinese history, cultural conservation and root-searching, based in Guangdong, China. This presentation addresses the transnational history of Chinese emigration from the Taishan and Kaiping districts and her experiences in assisting overseas Chinese with genealogical research.This program includes a Q&A session.
Tickets are $15. Admission includes a complimentary lunch buffet.
